Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-26
CivIL-SERvuCs PROMOTIONS.
How the New Rules are working
I'm tho Qunrtermnster-Gen.
erals Office.
tBy telegraph 10 the Dispaich.l

tBy telegraph 10 the Dspatcn.I
WASHINGTON. Jure 2j.-NothiDg authori-
tatiye can he learned about the recent ex'
aminations for promotion in the Quarter
maSter-GeneraPs Office. under the new civil
service rules, but there IL well founded
report ailoat which receives credence In
department circles that out OF thirty-eight
clerks examined but ten passed the exami-
nations successfully. II Is said that correct
answers 10 many OF the questions asked
would in no way show the efficiency Of
the clerks, and that these very questions,
which would be easy enough for a young
man or woman fresh from school, were the
greatest stumbling-blocks 10 the oldest
clerks who had been promoted for efficiency,
because they had given their attention for
msny years TO official duties and not to
school studies.
IL Is said that one man employed in the
discussing clerks office made no attempt
10 answer the mathematical questions asked,
and vet he was always regarded as a COM
petcnt clerk, and conducted his accounts
correctly. Ii is claimed that the minority
Of the competitors were so Hurried by the
realization OF the danger OF failure that
they could not do justice to themselves.
Ladies. in particular, were at a disadvsn-
tage. Those who had families dependent
upon their earnings for support were so
overcome with fear and nervousness at the
danger Of being thrown out OF employ.
ment that they were made sick, and IN one
or two instances tainted, and had to be
carried home. The clerks begin to feel
that there Is no doubt that the promotion
examinations will afford ample opportunity
for the discharge OF all the employees whose
services are 10 be dispensed with at the end
OF the fiscal year in accordance with law.
Indeed. 1t is said that the Civil Service
Commission will soon be called upon TO
designate scholarly but inexperienced per-
sons TO fill the places OF tried and efficient
clerks who are somewhat rusty in arlthme-
tic and geography.
The secretaries of the local ciyil.service
boards at several OF the large cities, called
here 10 confer with the Civil Service Com.
mission with a view to establishing a uni
form system Of examinations throughout
the country and TO exchange views upon
questions affecting the eivll.service system,
concluded their conference this afternoon.
One Of the most important questions dis
cussed was that Of amending the present
rules so as to provide for the examination
and marking OF papers OF applicant,
for positions anywhere in the Gus
toms or postal service by the
present Central Board OF Examination
located in Washington, and enlarged by
a permanent detail Of one or more efficient
officers from each Of the several more i'm.
OltaDt local offices in the country. II j.
claimed that by this system OF examining
papers uniformity IN marking and greater
pTOmptDess would be secured, and that II
would relieve the system Of all suspicion
even CT fayOritism, as applicants would be
known here only by number, the name In
no Instance bong permitted TO accompany
the papers. 1t is also said that in view OF
their other duties the time and disposal OF
the present examining board for the pur-
pose OF passing and marking examination
paperS is entirely inadequate. Mr.. Mason,
secretary OF the New York custom
house bosrd; Mr.. Post, OF the New York
pOst-oflice board, and Mr.. Donovan, of the
Chicago custom-house board, were appoint
cd a committee to present in writing the
views OF the secretaries upon this subject
The secretaries unanimously favored raising
the minimum as standard Of eligi-
biiitv to certifcatlOn from - TO -, except
rs to such places rs require special or tech
meal qualifications. They also favored a
discOntinuance Of the fOrty.fve-year limi-
tatlon as To age OF clerks in general, except
in special cases, and also to raise the mini-
mum Limitation OF age OF lct'er-carricrs
from sixteen 10 tWCnty.Onc. These views,
it is SAID, are shared in by the Civil Service
Commission, who will soon place the mat
ter before the President for his approval.